Gas chamber for automatic guns



Feb. 3. 1925.

G. HAZELTON GAS CHAMBER FOR AUTOMATIC GUNS Filed April 21 1924 6 w 3 9 N W m m 5 H. mi mm Patented Feb. 3, 1925.

GEORGE HAZELTON, OF PARIS, FRANCE.

GAS CHAMBER FOR AUTOMATIC GUNS.

Application filed April 21, 1924. Serial No, 708,024.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, GEORGE HAZELTON, a British subject, and residing at 7 Rue Georges Ville, Paris, 16", France, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Gas Chambers for Automatic Guns, of which the following is a specification.

This invention has for its object to pro vide improved apparatus for drawing ofi gases in machine guns and other automatic firearms of the kind which are operated by the gases conveyed through a. hole pierced in the gun barrel to an expansion cylinder disposed alongside the latter.

The invention consists in the provision of an easily detachable member embodying a conduit communicating with the forward end of the expansion cylinder and with a hole pierced in the gun barrel, said member preferably embodying a gun sight and support pivot means.

The invention also consists in a machine gun or other automatic firearm embodying gas drawing-off apparatus as set forth above, wherein the gas conduit member includes an externally screw threaded cylindrical piece which is mounted in a screw threaded hole therein, said cylindrical piece being pierced with a longitudinal duct which at one end communicates with a hole pierced in the gun barrel for drawing off the gases and which at the other end communicates through radial passageways formed in the screw threaded piece with a circular groove in the latter, communicating with the expansion cylinder.

The invention also consists in a machine gun or other automatic fire-arm embodying gas drawing-off apparatus as set forth above, wherein the screw threaded cylindrical piece embodies a truncated conical base which, when the piece is screwed home, engages forcibly with a conical abutment which is formed on the gun barrel concentrically with the hole for drawing off the gases, thus preventing any improper escape of said gases to the exterior of the apparatus.

The invention also consists in a machine gun or other automatic firearm embodying gas drawing-ofi apparatus as set forth above, wherein the cylindrical piece is prevented from accident-ally unscrewing by the provision of a recessed plate integral therewith and by the pro-vision of a locking screw in the lantern co-operating there with, substantially as described.

The invention also consists in constructions of gas-conveying members, substantially as hereinafter described. Referring to the accompanying drawmgsz- Figure 1 is a vertical section of a general arrangement of the improved apparatus mounted on the gun barrel of a machine gun;

Figure 2 is a front view thereof;

Figure 3 is a side elevation, and

Figure 4 is a plan thereof.

In carrying the invention into effect in h the form illustrated by way of example, I provide a member 3 which at one end carries a gun sight 9 and at the other end embodies a pivot pin 8 serving to support a suitable gun support (not shown).

Intermediate of the ends this member is pierced with a lateral cylindrical hole 4 which enables theimember toslide'upon a cylindrical part of the gun barrel with but slight friction until it abuts against a circular bearing or shoulder 5 on the latter. The threaded end of the expansion cylinder 7 is adapted to be screwed into a further lateral hole formed in a boss 6 on the memher 3 (this latter hole, however, extending only a short distance in the member). The expansion cylinder 7 which is thus rigidly connected to the improved apparatus of this invention is therefore carried, together with the latter, upon the gun barrel 2.

Within the upper part of the member I provide an externally screw threaded cylindrical piece 10 mounted in a corresponding screw threaded hole. This piece which terminates at its base in a truncated conical part 12 is pierced with acentral duct 18 and is also pierced at its upper part with a plurality of radial holes 14 connected with the said duct, the latter holes opening into a circular external groove 15 formed on the piece 10.

This piece is slotted at 16 at its upper end so as to permit, by the engagement of a screwdriver in the said slots, of rotational motion being imparted to the said piece 10, thereby causing the piece to be moved longitudinally in one or the other direction radial to the gun barrel axis.

The conical end of the threaded piece is caused to engage forcibly a conical abut- 7 is screwed and .also communicates with.

an annulus 19 surrounding concentrically the aforementioned groove in the screwed piece. I

The-screwed piece 10 is furtherprovided near one end with a circular plate in one face-of which there are cut a pluralityot radial grooves 27 intended to receive the end 28 of'alocking screw which-:is mounted in the body and Fis adapted to =be-actuated by means of a small loose handle lever 20,. 21.

The position ofthis locking screw relatively to-the gun barrel, as well-as the .disposition of the hand'lever 20, is such that the screw cannot be actuated by the said lever in the directions of either screwing or unscrewing, exceptwhen one of the 'knobs 21' provided at'theends ofthe handle is in contact'with-the headof the screw andcan thus :pass freely between the latter and a:

fiat:22 formed onthe gun barrel.

It will be observed thatactuation of the hand; lever by hand is arrested immediately the said lever meets the gun barrel. and therefore for the said action to be continued it is essential to slide thehandle within the head; of the screw until the other enlargement knob comes into contact with the-head of the said screw, thus allowing further rotation of the screw.

This construction is such that thefloose T handle lever 20, 21, constitutes not only a device ioroperating the locking .screw but also a safety device which in practice prevents any accidental unscrewing of the looking screw. The. flat on the gun barrel prefera-blyhas a determined length in order that the head-of the locking screw. shall be arrested in its unscrewing movement and thus beprevented from'accidental detachment by abutting against the shoulder constituted by the end of the"-flat.

It .is tobe understood that the abovede-- scribed constructional arrangements are given solely by way of example: and that the forms, .materials r and dimensions of the various constituent parts may be modified within the scope of the present, invention.

c Having now described; my invention, what I claim asnew and desireto secure by Letters Patent is 1.1Thecombination .in an automatic gun of a'amember which: encircles the gun. barrel and is asli'ding fit thereon with an expansion cylinder screwed into said member and communicating with an: amiulusatherein and with a centrally pierced threaded member also communicating :therewith and faced :at one-end to engage ,ingasetight manncr a corresponding face on the gun barrel.

2. A combination in automatic guns as claimed in claim 1, wherein the-centrally pierced'threaded member is conically faced and isprovided with a notched flange for engagement by a:locking screw.

.3. A combination in automatic guns as claimed in claim 1, wherein the :member.- encircling the gun barrel carries a gun,

sight andiembodies a gun. support pivot and the: locking screw is furnishedavitha loose handle lever.

'Inwtestimony-whereof I have signed my name tothis specification.

GEORGE HAZELTQN. 

